As much as I dislike the fact that living in a college town means that our friends are transient, I happen to love the fact that living in a college town means that we are always getting to meet and make new friends. That’s just one of the redeeming qualities of Happy Valley.
At the start of each fall semester, I can count on new faces smiling back at me on Sunday mornings. There are literally dozens of new friends to invite to join our lifegroup (still ranking as the #1 lifegroup on the planet, btw), out for coffee, or over to hang with Team Sublett.
I like meeting new people. It’s a great chance to hear their stories, learn what makes them tick, and see what God is doing in the hearts of people outside of Happy Valley. Of course, it also gives me a the opportunity to talk about Team Sublett and the way that God has stretched us through adoption. I try to watch their eyes as I talk, just to see if the “crazy alarm” is going to start ringing!
God uses other people to shape us, to rub off some of the rust or rough edges, to encourage and inspire us on to love and good deeds (the brother of Jesus said that last part). Relationships are meant to pull out the best in us, to sow seeds that will grow into fruit, and to provide us with partners on our journey.
The big win is that every relationship has two sides. So not only do I find encouragement, I get to be an encourager. I get to be shaped, and I’m used to shape others. Pretty good stuff there…
Who are your new friends? Where are you connecting? Who is God putting in your path? Kick off the conversation in the comments.
Oh, and about yesterday’s vehicle poll: I’m letting the contest run until Friday. There have to be more opinions out there than the 9 I got yesterday. And Amanda, you don’t get entered twice, but that was a nice try. Some lucky commenter is going to win some Team Sublett memorabilia…
0 Comments